How to Prioritize Your Mental Health as a Manager?

Remember Ben Whittaker from The Intern? The guy had 40 years of experience, a three-piece suit, and the emotional stability of a Zen master. 

While everyone around him was running on stress and caffeine, he stayed calm, steady, and balanced. 

Not because he had fewer responsibilities but because he understood something most managers forget: taking care of yourself isn’t slacking off—it makes you a great leader. 

Meanwhile, today’s managers are expected to be everything, everywhere, all at once. 

You’re juggling deadlines, team conflicts, performance goals, and last-minute fire drills—all while pretending to have it together. 

You’re the human equivalent of 27 open browser tabs, and at least three of them are frozen.

It’s exhausting.

The best managers aren’t the ones who burn the candle at both ends—they’re the ones who know that protecting their mental well-being is key to leading a high-performing team.

So, how do you prioritize your mental health without feeling guilty? How do you lead effectively without sacrificing yourself in the process?

Managers and CXOs need mental health training to lead with clarity, resilience, and balance. 

Whether they are women-owned business leaders driving innovation, executives navigating high-pressure industries, or founders scaling fast-growing companies. 

Prioritizing mental well-being is key to sustaining success and fostering a thriving workplace. And it’s affordable and closer than you think.

Is Your Leadership Style Hurting Your Mental Health?

Feeling burnt out, anxious, or overwhelmed at work? You’re not alone.

The good news? You might qualify for paid mental health leave.

Here are 7 expert-backed strategies to help them stay sharp, composed, and effective while guiding their teams.

How to Prioritize Your Mental Health as a Manager (Without Feeling Guilty)

1. Start Small, Think Big: Prioritizing your mental health doesn’t mean making grand gestures—it’s like Donny from Baby Reindeer finally taking a step back to set boundaries. Even five minutes of quiet time before diving into emails can be the difference between leading with clarity or running on fumes.

2. Say "No" Without Regret: Think of it like being Lord Yoshii Toranaga in Shōgun—strategic, deliberate, and always playing the long game. You don’t have to fight every battle or accept every request. A well-placed “no” protects your energy so you can lead with wisdom, not exhaustion.

3. Schedule "Me Time" Like an Important Meeting: Would Logan Roy from Succession ever let someone hijack his schedule? Absolutely not. Treat your mental recharge time with the same authority—block it, protect it, and don’t let back-to-back demands eat away at it.

4. Lean on Your Team: Even Jesse in A Real Pain had to learn that going it alone wasn’t sustainable. Whether it’s trusting your direct reports or reaching out to a mentor, leaning on others doesn’t make you weak—it makes you a smarter, more effective leader.

5. Acknowledge Your Wins: Channel your inner Michael Scott from The Office—celebrate the small victories. Finished a major project? Nailed a tough conversation? Give yourself credit. Recognition shouldn’t only be for your team—it applies to you as well.

6. Break the Cycle of Perfectionism: Think Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s Captain Holt—structured, efficient, but willing to adapt. You don’t need to be perfect to be a great manager. Prioritizing progress over perfection helps both you and your team thrive.

7. Seek Help When Needed: If work starts feeling like navigating Squid Game levels of pressure, it’s time to reach out. Whether it’s a mentor, coach, or therapist, support isn’t a weakness—it’s a career power move.

You can have all the leadership training in the world, but if your own mental health is running on empty, you’re leading on borrowed time. 

The best managers aren’t the ones who grind the hardest or sacrifice the most—they’re the ones who set boundaries, prioritize balance, and create a workplace where both they and their teams can thrive.

Let’s make mental health part of your leadership journey, not an afterthought.

•Call us at 720.400.7025 for expert guidance

• Book a consultation with our mental health provider